Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a marker which is a ground-fixed type wireless communication
unit to be used for wireless communication with a mobile body such as an automobile
or a railway vehicle, and specifically, relates to a mounting structure of an electric
circuit board for suppressing temperature change of the board loaded on the marker.
Background Art
[0002] As a marker for mobile communication, for example, a road surface fixed-type marker
to be used in communication with automobiles is known. As such ground-fixed type marker,
techniques disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 are provided.
[0003] Patent Literature 1 discloses providing a marker having superior antishock resistance,
by configuring the marker by laminating, on an upper surface of a radome material
at an upper portion of an antenna stored inside the marker, an impact absorbing material
with a dielectric constant lower than the dielectric constant of the radome material.
[0004] Patent Literature 2 discloses achieving adsorption of impact applied to the marker,
and inhibiting rainwater and the like from entering inside the marker from an opening
unit, by blocking the opening unit of the marker with a first lid fitted to a stepped
unit, and by blocking a gap between an outer peripheral surface of the first lid and
an inner peripheral surface of the opening unit with a second lid.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0005]
[PTL 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-258330
[PTL 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-209490
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0006] Explanation will be given on the problem to be solved by the present invention,
with reference to FIG. 2. A marker 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a generalized marker of the
markers disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2.
[0007] A major portion of the marker 1 is installed in an outdoor environment where there
is no roof. Therefore, the marker 1 is exposed to solar radiation 6 from the sun.
A part of the solar radiation 6 is reflected on an upper surface unit of a casing
7, but the remaining solar radiation energy is absorbed by a casing material and converted
to heat, and raises a surface temperature of the casing. According to estimation by
the present inventors, the casing surface temperature reaches 100 °C or higher, depending
on a combination of a material characteristics of the casing and an environment of
the installed marker. The heat is transferred to an electric circuit board 9 by heat
conduction 8 via the casing 7 and a material 5 covering the board, and consequently
raises the temperature of the electric circuit board 9. On the other hand, during
nighttime, a phenomenon that the casing surface temperature becomes lower than outdoor
air temperature occurs, from heat radiation from the upper surface of the casing 7
to the sky. That is, a variation of the casing surface temperature becomes greater
than a variation of the outdoor air temperature in one day. If the variation of the
casing surface temperature is transmitted to the inside of the marker, the electronic
circuit board 9 will also be exposed to severe temperature variation.
[0008] In a case where the marker is placed in a severe environment in which the temperature
variation becomes significant, there is a problem that a deterioration of lifetime
of electronic components or soldered joint units on the electronic circuit board 9
occurs. Further, during high temperature in the daytime, there is a possibility that
the electric circuit performs abnormal operation from heat.
[0009] As measures for the problem of temperature variation of the electronic circuit board
accompanying the variation of the casing surface temperature, it is conceivable to
use a material having low thermal conductivity such as an urethane foam material as
the material 5 covering the board. However, on the other hand, the electronic components
loaded on the board itself generate heat, and it is necessary to dissipate the heat
generated by the electronic components to the outside of the casing. Therefore, in
a structure where the board is covered with a material with low thermal conductivity,
it becomes difficult to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic component to
outside the casing.
[0010] The present invention aims at providing a marker capable of protecting the board
from the temperature variation caused by the solar radiation 6 and radiative cooling
at the upper surface of the casing 7, and radiating the heat generated from the electronic
components mounted on the board to the outside of the marker efficiently.
Solution to Problem
[0011] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, for example, a configuration disclosed
in the scope of the claims is adopted. The present application contains a plurality
of means for solving the above-mentioned problem, and one example thereof is a marker
for mobile communication installed on ground, characterized in that the marker has
an insulating layer such as an air layer or a vacuum layer or a foam material layer
or a fiber material layer between an electronic circuit board and an upper portion
of a casing, and that the lower side portion from the electronic circuit board is
configured from only a material with larger heat conductivity than the insulating
layer.
[0012] The "insulating layer" in the present application is not limited to the air layer,
the vacuum layer, the foam material layer, the fiber material layer, or a layer configured
from a member with remarkably high heat insulating effect, but in a broad sense, widely
includes a material with lower heat conductivity than the member arranged to a lower
side from the electronic circuit board.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0013] It becomes possible to provide a marker capable of suppressing the temperature variation
of the electronic circuit board caused by the solar radiation and the radiative cooling,
and radiating the heat generated from the electronic components mounted on the board
to outside the marker with good efficiency.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0014]
[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an installation mode of a maker for automobile.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at line A-A' in FIG. 1 of a conventional
marker.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the marker according to one mode of Embodiment
1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the marker viewed from an upper surface side
thereof according to one mode of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the marker viewed from a lower surface side
thereof according to one mode of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at line B-B' in FIG. 4 of the marker
according to one mode of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken at line B-B' in FIG. 4 of the marker
according to one mode of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the marker according to one mode of Embodiment
3 of the present invention.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the marker according to one mode of Embodiment
4 of the present invention.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a wireless communication between
the marker and an antenna on a vehicle side.
Description of Embodiments
[0015] Various embodiments will be explained below with reference to accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
[0016] Explanation will be given on a wireless communication between a marker and a vehicle,
taking an automobile as an example of a mobile body, with reference to FIG. 10. A
marker 1 fixed on a road surface performs a wireless communication 25 with an on-vehicle
antenna 24 loaded on a vehicle 23 passing thereabove. For example, in a case where
the marker 1 is installed on a toll road or the like, it is possible for the marker
1 to receive information such as the type of the vehicle, the entered toll gate and
the like from the vehicle 23, to compute a toll information calculated from these
information, for example, and to transmit the same to the vehicle 23. By doing so,
it becomes possible to collect a fare without stopping the vehicle 23. Further, it
becomes possible to transmit information of a speed limit of a traveling section or
an information of a curve or intersection on a route and the like to the vehicle 23,
process these information at the vehicle 23 side, and notify the same as visual information
or voice information to a driver, or make the vehicle 23 decelerate automatically
to a safe speed after comparing the same with the speed and acceleration of the vehicle
23. As is explained above, the wireless communication in mobile communication is required
to have high reliability, since it is frequently used in managing money transfers
or improvement of safety.
[0017] An installation mode of the marker on the road surface is shown in FIG. 1. As is
shown in FIG. 1, a major portion of the marker 1 is installed outdoors, so that the
temperature of the marker 1 becomes higher than an outdoor temperature from direct
sunlight during daytime, and becomes lower than the outdoor temperature from radiative
cooling during nighttime. As such, the marker is exposed to extremely severe temperature
cycle environment. If this temperature cycle reaches an electronic circuit board inside
the marker, there is a possibility that a life duration of electronic components inside
the marker or soldered joint units on the electronic circuits may decrease, and also
there is a possibility that an abnormal operation of the electronic circuit occurs
if the temperature increase of the electronic circuit board becomes extremely high
from solar radiation during the daytime.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the marker according to the present embodiment. The
marker 1 is equipped with an upper casing unit 12 configuring an upper surface and
side surfaces, a lower casing unit 13 configuring a lower surface, an electronic circuit
board 9 loaded with an electronic component and a wireless communication antenna,
and an insert 14 for fixing a bolt, which is directly molded to the upper casing unit
12.
[0019] The upper casing unit 12 and the lower casing unit 13 serve a purpose of protecting
the electronic circuit board 9 and the antenna existing inside thereof from external
environment, and is configured from a hard material such as a FRP (Fiber Reinforced
Plastic) which is a fiber-reinforced resin material, taking into consideration an
electric wave permeability in wireless communication and a strength against vibration
and crushing. Further, the electronic circuit board 9 is sealed so that the whole
surface is covered by a rubber-like board sealing resin 11. Since the marker is fixed
with respect to a mount 10 by a bolt 2, the lower surface of the marker does not directly
contact the road surface or a base. A fixing method of the mount 10 to the road surface
or the base may be a method of directly fastening to the road surface or the base
via the bolt, or may be a method of fixing with a belt in a case of the base.
[0020] At an inner side of the lower casing unit 13, an inner wall 15 is provided each to
an outer peripheral unit and to a bolt piercing unit. When manufacturing the marker,
the electronic circuit board 9 is first installed to the lower casing unit 13 while
maintaining a gap between an inner bottom surface of the lower casing unit 13, and
thereafter, the board sealing resin 11 is directly casted in a fluidized state, thereby
making it possible to fix the electronic circuit board 9 in a state closely contacting
the lower casing unit 13, and to cover the whole surface of the electronic circuit
board 9 with the board sealing resin 11. Thereafter, the upper casing unit 12 and
the lower casing unit 13 fixed with the electronic circuit board 9 are matched, and
the marker and the mount 10 are fixed with the bolt 2 and the insert 14 for fixing
the bolt. When matching the upper casing unit 12 and the lower casing unit 13, it
becomes possible to configure the marker having a space between an inner upper surface
of the upper casing unit 12 and the board sealing resin 11.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the marker seen from an upper surface side thereof.
The marker has two piercing units for fixing the marker and the mount 10 with the
bolts 2. Further, the side surface of the marker has a connector for connecting the
marker and a superior ground device with a communication wire, and both side surfaces
of the connector are equipped with projecting units. When a vehicle passes the marker,
foreign matters on the road surface collide thereto by being flicked by tires and
the like. Therefore, by having such projecting units, it becomes possible to prevent
the foreign matters from colliding to a connecting portion between the marker and
the communication wire and damaging the connecting portion.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the marker seen from a lower surface side. As
is shown in FIG. 5, the lower casing unit 13 is provided with an unevenness unit 16.
The unevenness unit is designed to increase a surface area of the lower side surface
of the casing, and to improve a heat radiation effect from a lower side portion of
the marker. Further, the lower casing unit 13 is arranged so as to enter into an inner
side of a side surface unit of the upper casing unit 12. With such configuration,
it becomes possible to make it difficult for rainwater to enter the interior of the
marker. Further, if the mount 10 is configured to cover the whole surface of the lower
casing unit 13, there is fear that the radiation performance from the lower side surface
of the lower casing unit 13 is deteriorated. Therefore, the mount 10 is configured
to cover a section of the lower casing unit 13.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken at B-B', when the marker is cut between
B-B' shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 6, the shaded area indicates a cut surface. As is shown
in FIG. 6, a space 17 is provided between the upper casing unit 12 and the board sealing
resin 11 covering the electronic circuit board 9.
[0024] The space 17, that is, an air layer (which may be a gas layer other than air) functions
as an insulating layer as it is, and is capable of effectively suppressing heat conduction
from the upper surface unit of the marker which becomes hot by solar radiation to
the electronic circuit board 9. It is possible to make the space 17 function as the
insulating layer, for example, by installing heat insulating material such as an urethane
foam or a glass wool and the like. Further, it is possible to further improve an insulating
effect than that of the air layer, by making the space to a vacuum state. In this
case, it is not easy to obtain a complete vacuum state, so that it is possible to
exert a larger insulating effect than that of the air layer, by filling the air layer
with a lower air pressure than the atmospheric pressure or other gas.
[0025] Such structure is effective not only in protecting the electronic circuit board 9
from the temperature rise from the solar radiation during daytime, but also in protecting
the electronic circuit board 9 from the temperature drop from the radiative cooling
during nighttime.
[0026] On the other hand, the electronic circuit board 9 contacts the lower casing unit
13 via the board sealing resin 11, so that the heat conduction with the lower surface
side of the marker becomes larger compared to that of the upper surface side of the
marker. In the day time, the lower surface side of the marker is in the shade, so
that there is no fear that the surface temperature of the lower surface side of the
marker rises by direct sunlight, unlike the case for the upper surface side. The temperature
rise during daytime of the road surface or the base becomes large, since the road
surface or the base is exposed to direct sunlight. However, the lower surface of the
marker does not contact the road surface or the base directly from the mount 10, and
most part of the lower surface of the marker is configured to contact the outer air,
therefore, there is little effect of heat conduction from the road surface or the
base which became hot. As such, the temperature change of the lower side of the marker
is similar to ambient temperature change of the surroundings. Therefore, it is preferable
to load the electronic circuit board 9 to a lower side of the marker 1. The mount
10 is equipped with a projecting unit 19 at a bolt joining portion, and a space is
provided between the lower surface of the marker and the mount 10 by the projecting
unit 19 when the mount 10 is fixed to the marker. By providing a space between the
lower surface of the marker and the mount 10, it becomes possible to secure a radiation
effect from the lower surface of the marker.
[0027] The problems to be considered in addition to the temperature rise from solar radiation
are the heat generation by elements mounted on the electronic circuit board. The marker
basically operates only during passing of the vehicle, so that there is small possibility
that regular heat generation from element occurs. However, in a case where the vehicle
stops in a state in which the on-vehicle antenna position and the marker position
coincides, wireless electric supply by the on-vehicle antenna continues, and there
is a possibility that the heat generation by the elements loaded to the marker increases.
Supposing that the board is covered by the same material as the insulating layer,
the effect of suppressing the temperature rise of the board from solar radiation improves,
but it has the opposite effect in radiating heat generated by the element. Therefore,
by adopting a rubber-like polyurethane-based potting agent with high thermal conductivity
(at least having higher thermal conductivity than the insulating layer) and the like
as the board sealing resin 11, it becomes possible to effectively dissipate the heat
to the outside of the element, and to suppress rise in element temperature during
heat generation. It is necessary to eventually dissipate the heat from the board sealing
resin 11 to the outside of the marker. As is explained above, the temperature of the
upper surface side of the marker becomes high from the solar radiation, so that it
is preferable to aim at radiating heat from the lower surface side of the casing in
which the temperature is comparatively low. Further, the electronic circuit board
9 and the inner side surface of the lower casing unit 13 are closely contacted by
the board sealing resin 11. By adopting the structure of the present embodiment, it
becomes possible to perform heat radiation effectively from the lower side of the
marker, since the electronic circuit board 9 is closer to the lower surface of the
marker than the upper surface thereof, and since no insulating layer is provided to
the lower side of the electronic circuit board 9.
[0028] The thickness of the board sealing resin 11 is preferably set to be as thin as possible,
taking into consideration a height of the electronic components mounted on the electronic
circuit board 9, fluidity of the sealing resin during manufacturing, and a relationship
between moisture permeability and thickness and the like. By making the thickness
of the sealing resin thin, loading position of the board further approximates the
lower surface of the casing, and the heat radiation performance from the lower surface
improves further. Therefore, even in a case where the electronic components mounted
on the electronic circuit board 9 generates heat, the marker 1 of the present configuration
is capable of radiating heat effectively from the lower surface side of the casing
7 the temperature of which is low.
[0029] Further, if materials with high dielectric loss exist in the surroundings or in the
vicinity of the antenna, power loss becomes large and the wireless communication performance
decreases. Therefore, it is necessary to give attention to a mounting structure of
the antenna upon designing, but especially in a case where the antenna is mounted
on to the electronic circuit board, and a material with high dielectric loss is used
for the board sealing resin 11, there is a possibility that the wireless communication
performance decreases largely, since the antenna and the material with high dielectric
loss closely contact each other. Therefore, by making the thickness of the sealing
resin thin, it becomes possible to perform the wireless communication of the antenna
loaded to the electronic circuit board 9 satisfactorily.
[0030] Further, there are cases where debris interrupting wireless communication, such as
powder of asphalt, iron powder, or water droplets, adhere to the upper surface of
the marker. In some cases, there is a possibility that the marker 1 is flooded. In
such case, compared to the case where the antenna is set to the upper surface side
of the marker casing, the present structure is capable of securing large distance
between the antenna loaded to the electronic circuit board 9 and the debris adhering
to the upper surface of the marker. Therefore, it becomes possible to further reduce
the attenuation amount of the electric wave.
[0031] Further, since the marker is installed slightly above the road surface, there is
a possibility that the foreign matters collide to the lower surface of the marker
1, by being flicked by tires and the like during passing of the vehicle. Even in this
case, by adopting the present structure of covering the lower side of the marker with
the lower casing unit 13, it becomes possible to protect the electronic circuit board
9 from the collision of the foreign matters, since the lower surface side of the casing
is covered with hard material.
[0032] Further, in order to prevent moisture and the like from entering inside the marker,
it is desirable that an end of contacting surface unit 18 of the upper casing unit
12 and the lower casing unit 13 takes a configuration to be at the lower surface side
of the marker to which raindrops do not directly fall. That is, it is desirable that
the lower casing unit 13 is arranged so as to enter to the inner side of the side
surface unit of the upper casing unit 12.
[0033] Further, to the lower surface side of the marker of the lower casing unit 13, the
unevenness unit 16 may be provided, as is shown in FIG. 5, so as to increase the surface
area thereof, and to aim at improving the heat radiation effect from the lower side
portion of the marker. Further, the lower side from the wireless communication antenna
does not become a transmitting surface of the communication radio wave. Therefore,
metal materials such as aluminum alloy with higher thermal conductivity may be used
for the lower casing unit 13.
[0034] The marker in the above-explained embodiment is capable of significantly reducing
the heat conduction from the upper surface unit of the casing to the electronic circuit
board 9, with the insulating layer provided between the upper surface unit of the
casing and the electronic circuit board 9 sealed with resin. By doing so, it becomes
possible to substantially suppress the temperature rise of the electronic circuit
board, even in a case where the marker is placed under high solar radiation environment
such as in low-latitude region, thereby making it possible to improve robustness of
the marker.
[0035] Also, during nighttime, the surface temperature of the marker becomes lower than
the ambient temperature from heat radiation from the casing to the outside, and in
such case, it becomes possible to substantially suppress the heat conduction from
the electronic circuit board to the upper surface of the casing with the above-explained
insulating layer. As a result, it becomes possible to further reduce the temperature
variation of one day to which the electronic circuit board is exposed. Thereby, it
becomes possible to improve the lifetime of the electronic components or the soldered
joint units mounted on the electronic circuit board, contributing to enhancement of
long-term reliability of the marker, even in a case where the marker is installed
to an environment with severe temperature environment.
[0036] On the other hand, by configuring the lower surface side of the casing from the electronic
circuit board with material having larger heat conduction than that of the insulating
layer, without providing the above-mentioned insulating layer, it becomes possible
to effectively release heat generated by the electronic circuit components from the
lower surface of the casing to which no direct solar radiation reaches.
[0037] Further, in a case where the electronic circuit board is sealed with a resin superior
in heat conduction, with the aim of improving heat conduction to the lower surface
of the casing, it is possible to reduce the energy absorbed by the board sealing resin,
by taking a structure in which a part of or all of the antenna for wireless communication
is separated from the electronic circuit board and is not sealed by the resin.
Embodiment 2
[0038] In Embodiment 1, the structure of FIG. 6 in which the antenna for wireless communication
is loaded to the electronic circuit board 9 is adopted. In Embodiment 2, the structure
shown in FIG. 7, in which the antenna for wireless communication is changed to a separated
antenna 20 and is separated from the electronic circuit board 9, is adopted. Other
structure and manufacturing method are the same as that in Embodiment 1.
[0039] In the structure of Embodiment 1, the board sealing resin 11 is filled even on the
antenna for wireless communication. Some of the resin material used for the purpose
of sealing the board has large dielectric loss. Therefore, in a case where a resin
with large dielectric loss is adopted in the structure of Embodiment 1, wireless power
loss is large, and there is a possibility that reliability of the wireless communication
deteriorates.
[0040] In such case, as is shown in FIG. 7, it is desirable to change the antenna for wireless
communication to the separated antenna 20, and to adopt a structure in which the antenna
is separated from the electronic circuit board 9. As an installing position of the
separated antenna 20, a method of fixing the same to the upper casing unit 12 is conceivable,
however, the marker of the present embodiment has the electronic circuit board 9 installed
to the lower casing unit, so that the wiring between the electronic circuit board
9 and the separated antenna 20 or an assembly method thereof becomes complicated.
Therefore, it is desirable that the separated antenna 20 is installed to the lower
casing unit 13, and a method of fixing the separated antenna 20 to an outer side or
at an upper portion of the inner wall 15 is most appropriate. Especially, when the
latter method of fixing the separated antenna 20 to the upper portion of the inner
wall 15 is adopted, it becomes possible to offset the height of an antenna plane and
the height of the board sealing resin 11, so the effect of suppressing wireless power
loss becomes large.
Embodiment 3
[0041] In Embodiments 1 and 2, the marker casing is configured from two members consisting
of the upper casing unit 12 and the lower casing unit 13, but on the other hand, Embodiment
3 adopts a structure in which only the upper casing unit 12 exists and the lower casing
unit 13 is omitted, as is shown in FIG. 8. Other structure is the same as that in
Embodiment 1. That is, it is a structure in which the board sealing resin 11 configures
the outer surface of the lower portion of the marker. Further, in a case where an
antenna for performing communication with an on-vehicle side is arranged inside the
electronic circuit board 9, there is a technical request to arrange the electronic
circuit board to a position close to the upper surface of the marker in order to improve
the communication performance. However, in view of the heat from the upper surface
of the marker from solar radiation, there is a conflicting technical request to arrange
the electronic circuit board 9 to a position away from the upper surface of the marker.
As such, by configuring the board sealing resin 11 with a material with larger thermal
conductivity than a solid insulating material 21 which covers the upper surface of
the electronic circuit board 9, as is in the present Embodiment, it becomes possible
to make the material arranged to the lower side of the electronic circuit board to
be the material with higher thermal conductivity than the material arranged to the
upper side of the electronic circuit board. With such configuration, it becomes possible
to secure communication performance, suppress heat quantity transmitted from the upper
surface of the marker to the electronic circuit board minimum, and at the same time
effectively perform heat radiation from the lower surface side of the marker during
heat generation from the circuit.
[0042] With such configuration, it becomes possible to arrange the electronic circuit board
9 even closer to the lower surface of the marker, compared to Embodiment 1 or 2. Therefore,
it becomes possible to effectively promote the heat radiation from the lower surface
side of the casing. Further, the number of components of the casing member may only
be one, thereby contributing to reducing the cost of the product. Still further, there
is no connecting portion between the casing units of the upper casing unit 12 and
the lower casing unit 13 as is in Embodiment 1 or 2, so that it is an effective means
for securing watertightness of the electronic circuit board 9. Moreover, although
not shown in FIG. 8, by making the exterior side of the board sealing resin 11 in
an uneven shape, it becomes possible to aim at improving the heat radiation effect
from the lower side portion of the marker, by making the surface area of the lower
side surface of the casing larger.
[0043] In the structure of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, at the time of manufacture, it
is possible to seal the electronic circuit board 9 by casting the board sealing resin
11 after fixing the electronic circuit board 9 to the lower casing unit 13, but in
the present Embodiment with no lower casing unit, it is not possible to implement
this manufacturing method. Therefore, in order to realize the structure of the present
Embodiment, the desirable manufacturing method is preliminary filling the solid insulating
material 21 such as a urethane foam to the upper casing unit 12 and secure the thickness
of the insulating layer, thereafter installing the electronic circuit board 9 in a
state maintaining a gap between itself and the solid insulating material 21, and thereafter
casting the board sealing resin 11.
[0044] In the present structure, the board sealing resin 11 becomes exposed at the lower
surface side of the marker, so the cooling performance is high compared to that of
Embodiment 1. However, it has a characteristic that the strength with respect to collision
of objects is low. Therefore, it is a structure suitable for a marker which is installed
on a road surface with no possibility of collision of object from the lower surface
of the marker.
Embodiment 4
[0045] As is explained above, in Embodiment 3, the board sealing resin 11 is exposed at
the lower surface side of the marker, so that the board protecting performance from
collision of foreign objects being flicked by tires and the like during traveling
of the vehicle drops, compared to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, in a case where soft
material is used as the board sealing resin 11. In order to supplement this drawback,
Embodiment 4 adopts a structure in which a protecting unit 22 configured from a hard
material is provided at the lower surface portion of the board sealing resin 11, as
is shown in FIG 9. As a forming method of the protecting unit 22, a method of casting
a hard resin such as epoxy resin, a method of fixing a preliminarily-shaped FRP board
or a metal plate, and the like, may be given.
[0046] Other structure is similar to that in Embodiment 1.
Reference Signs List
[0047]
- 1
- marker
- 2
- bolt
- 3
- road surface
- 4
- base
- 5
- material covering board
- 6
- solar radiation
- 7
- casing
- 8
- heat conduction
- 9
- electronic circuit board
- 10
- mount
- 11
- board sealing resin
- 12
- upper casing unit
- 13
- lower casing unit
- 14
- insert
- 15
- inner wall
- 16
- unevenness unit
- 17
- space
- 18
- joining surface end unit
- 19
- projecting unit
- 20
- separated antenna
- 21
- solid insulating material
- 22
- protecting unit
- 23
- vehicle
- 24
- on-vehicle antenna
- 25
- wireless communication
1. A marker installed on ground, and which performs wireless communication with a wireless
communication device mounted on a mobile body, comprising:
an electronic circuit board covered with resin material; and
a casing which covers at least an upper side which is the mobile body side of the
electronic circuit board;
wherein a first material or a space is provided between an upper side portion of the
casing and the electronic circuit board, and
a lower side from the electronic circuit board is configured from a material with
larger thermal conductivity than the first material or the space.
2. The marker according to Claim 1, wherein the resin material is a material with larger
thermal conductivity than the first material or the space.
3. The marker according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the space is an air layer.
4. The marker according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein
an inside of the space is a gas layer filled with gas, and
the gas layer has a negative pressure with respect to outside air of the marker.
5. The marker according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first material is configured from
a foam material.
6. The marker according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first material is configured from
a fiber material.
7. The marker according to Claim 1, wherein the casing is configured so as to cover an
upper surface unit and a side surface unit and a lower surface unit of the marker,
and is divided into two components of a component in which the upper surface unit
and the side surface unit are configured integrally, and a component configuring the
lower surface unit.
8. The marker according to Claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit board is fixed to
an inner side of the lower surface unit of the casing via the resin material.
9. The marker according to Claim 1, wherein
the casing is configured so as to cover an upper surface unit and a side surface unit
and a lower surface unit of the marker, and
the lower side unit of the cover has an uneven rectangular groove shape.
10. The marker according to Claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit board is equipped
with an electronic component and an antenna for wireless communication.
11. The marker according to Claim 1, further comprising an antenna for wireless communication
separately from the electronic circuit board, wherein the antenna is not covered with
the resin material.
12. The marker according to Claim 11, wherein
the casing is configured so as to cover an upper surface unit and a side surface unit
and a lower surface unit of the marker, and is divided into two components of a component
in which the upper surface unit and the side surface unit are configured integrally,
and a component configuring the lower surface unit, and
the antenna is installed to the component configuring the lower surface unit of the
casing.
13. The marker according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the antenna is installed to a height
different from the electronic circuit board.
14. The marker according to Claim 1, wherein
the casing is configured from a single component with a structure where the lower
surface side is opened,
the first material is configured from a solid material, and
the resin material covering the electronic circuit board is adhered to the first material
configured from the solid material.
15. The marker according to Claim 14, wherein
the lower surface of the marker is configured from the resin material having an uneven
shape at a surface thereof.